Arabs, Race and the Post-September 11 National Security State

Salah D. Hassan teaches English at Michigan State University, and serves on editorial committee ofMiddle East Report. ington. Some Arab-American advocacy groups have applauded Bush administration's rhetorical opposition to disturbing backlash against Arabs and Muslims. The director of Arab American Institute, James Zogby, stated that the president saved lives by speaking out against antiArab and anti-Muslim violence. Zogby goes on to claim: There is no question collective effort of leadership stopped hate crimes in their tracks, changed discourse and brought out our better angels. I will never forget what [Bush] did.' Despite enthusiasm of Zogby and other Arab and Muslim Americans for administration's response, national security measures undertaken during last 12 months by Justice Department have targeted almost exclusively people from Middle East and South Asia, and led to incarceration, deportation and interrogation of